Craigslist scam artist- don't be a sucker!  

Him:
Item still available for sale?

Me:
Yes is it...

Him:
I'm paying via money order. If you provide me with your name and mailing address payment will be mailed to you

Me:
Sorry- cash only (it was a huge appliance that I requested local pickup only)

Him:
Ok. Thanks for your time

total scam. Said the exact same thing to me. I texted him the address of the local Police Department. Never heard back.

I went a bit further with this. I, like the rest of you, was selling something on CL. We texted, I gave him my uncles address [a house full of big intimidating guys, just in case] and waited.
He texted me later saying that his "assistant" screwed up and sent the wrong money orders, and to send him the remaining balance, and that he couldn't fix it as it had already been mailed out. [Dec 9th]  On the 26th, I got 2 moneygrams in an envelope with no return address, postmarked from Philadelphia PA... also postdated 12/24 *eyeroll*
These 2 were dated from July, were both for 984.50 EACH
Hahaha, wow.. Some "screw up".
So I look at the money orders, the name and address are both stamped on from "Pat Sandra" in Levittown, PA. I looked up the name by itself, then paired with the address. Nothing came up. Fake name, no such address.
Then I looked at the money orders themselves. The authentication didn't work. So, fake sheet.
Commence the texting;
Me: ok i got the money orders.
Him: Hello, Im happy you have finally received payment, once again I apologise for the mix up. My assistant made a mess of the whole process, like I mentioned to you before.
Pls go ahead and have the money order deposited in your bank, it takes 24 hours to clear. Pls make sure to inform me as soon as it clears from your bank so we can proceed from there.

a few days pass and so I tell him I put the money orders in and they have cleared. [they're still sitting on my desk, untouched].
Him: good morning i believe the money is available now. pls let me know asap so i can start making arrangement for pickup and also to send details where to send my balance to.
Take cash out of my balance to any CVS outlet close to you and send my balance via moneygram money transfer money in minutes to the following details in 2 batches.
$900 should go to NAME OF RECIEVER : [name] : CITY : LONDON : COUNTRY : UNITED KINGDOM
The remaining balance to  [etc etc etc etc] [also in London]
Pls get it done now and tell me the best time for pick up.

So I give him some bogus numbers and the address to the Subway in town.
He tells me the numbers are wrong, so I tell him the numbers are as legit as the money orders he gave me and to have a nice day.

Marvelous post. Great to read, & it's such an obvious scam.

I just received the same texts from this scam artist too. Almost verbatim to everyone else. My text session went as follows:

HIM: Indoor Bike Trainer - $120  Item still available for sale?

ME: Yes

HIM: I'm interested in buying, and I'll be paying via money order

HIM: if you provide me with your name and mailing address payment will be mailed to you

ME: Where are you located? If it's close enough I can bring it to you. Otherwise I'll need to factor in shipping costs into the price.

HIM: I live and own my business in PA

HIM: I'm contractoring a pickup company to handle pickup for me. I'm away taking care of some other business.

HIM: As soon as payment gets to you, I'll start arrangement for pickup.

this is were I start to "smell fish".......

ME: Not good with that arrangement. If you give me your address, I'll determine shipping costs and let you know. You can then send money order ($120 plus shipping costs). I'll send you trainer with receipt for shipping so you know it's legit. I'll choose lowest shipping cost if you would like.

I then googled this phone number and found this page with everyone's experience. What an [***] this person is.